Pang says lab not his

By JAMES GUKEN,
DWU journalism student
ASSISTANT Commissioner of Police (special operations) Donald Yamasombi says Jamie Pang denied that the methamphetamine lab was his at the time of a search.
“But Pang was present in his living room at the time of search on Nov 16, 2021, where a mini meth lab was found in his bathroom,” Yamasombi testified in the Boroko District Court on Friday.
He added: “As per the intelligence we got, we asked Pang to open all rooms adjacent to his living room and in room number 314, Pang pushed the door open, the room was dark, so I switched on the light and stepped into the room.
“I looked into the shower and found tubes or hoses connected.
“So immediately, I knew we might be dealing with something that might be hazardous.
“So I called my men to step back and I called Pang to step forward into the room.
“Pang stepped into the room and was asked, what is this and he put his hands on his head and sat on the floor and apologised.
“I asked him ‘Is this a lab in progress?’ and he said ‘this is not mine but I can tell you the process of this’.
“But I said ‘I am not interested in learning the process.
“I said we will have all these exhibits documented and removed’.
“I then called the forensics to come to the crime scene to dust and take fingerprints of all the equipment in the room and take photographs as well.
“Pang offered to help remove the apparatus.
“In the process of packing, we found white substances in a brown package on the bed and a Papua New Guinea cap containing more white substances under the pillow on the bed.
“Pang whispered into my ears that there were four firearms concealed in the bed also.”
Yamasombi said the white substances were handed over to the investigators under his direction as the substances were of interest as per what they were looking for in terms of methamphetamine.
Pang, 43, an Australian who is also Sanctuary Hotel operations manager, is charged with two counts under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1951.
Magistrate Garry Unjo will hear Pang’s no case submission by his lawyers today.